2 Samuel 22-23

2 Samuel 22

David’s Song of Deliverance

1 David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day that the Lord delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul, 2 and he said:

“The Lord is my rock,
my fortress,
and my deliverer.

3 The Lord is my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my high tower, and my refuge.
My savior, you save me from violence.

4 I call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised.
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

5 For the waves of death surrounded me.
The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

6 The sorrows of hell were around me.
The snares of death confronted me.

7 In my distress, I called on the Lord.
Yes, I called to my God.
He heard my voice from his temple.
My cry came into his ears.

8 Then the earth shook and trembled.
The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken,
because he was angry.

9 Smoke went up out of his nostrils.
Consuming fire came out of his mouth.
Coals were kindled by it.

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down.
Thick darkness was under his feet.

11 He rode on a cherub, and flew.
Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind.

12 He made darkness a shelter around himself:
gathering of waters and thick clouds of the skies.

13 At the brightness before him,
coals of fire were kindled.

14 The Lord thundered from heaven.
The Most High uttered his voice.

15 He sent out arrows, and scattered them,
lightning, and confused them.

16 Then the channels of the sea appeared.
The foundations of the world were laid bare by the Lord’s rebuke,
at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

17 He sent from on high and he took me.
He drew me out of many waters.

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.

19 They came on me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.

20 He also brought me out into a large place.
He delivered me, because he delighted in me.

21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness.
He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands.

22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23 For all his ordinances were before me.
As for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

24 I was also blameless toward him.
I kept myself from my iniquity.

25 Therefore the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness in his sight.

26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful.
With the blameless you will show yourself blameless.

27 With the pure you will show yourself pure.
With the fraudulent you will show yourself shrewd.

28 You will save the humble people,
But your eyes are on the arrogant, that you may bring them down.

29 For you are my lamp, O Lord.
God will light up my darkness.

30 For by you, I can run through a troop of bandits.
By my God, I can leap over a wall.

31 As for God, his way is perfect.
The word of the Lord is tested.
He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.

32 For who is God, besides the Lord?
Who is a rock, besides our God?

33 God is my strong fortress.
He makes my way perfect.

34 He makes his feet like hinds’ feet,
and sets me on my high places.

35 He teaches my hands to war,
so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.

36 You have also given me the shield of your salvation.
Your gentleness has made me great.

37 You have enlarged my steps under me.
My feet have not slipped.

38 I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them.
I did not turn back until they were consumed.

39 I have consumed them,
and struck them through,
so that they cannot arise.
Yes, they have fallen under my feet.

40 For you have armed me with strength for the battle.
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

41 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,
that I might cut off those who hate me.

42 They looked, but there was no one to save,
even to the Lord, but he did not answer them.

43 Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth.
I crushed them like the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad.

44 You also have delivered me from the striving of my people.
You have kept me to be the head of the nations.
A people whom I have not known will serve me.

45 The foreigners will submit themselves to me.
As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.

46 The foreigners will fade away,
and will come trembling out of their close places.

47 The Lord lives!
Blessed be my rock!
Exalted be the God and rock of my salvation,48 the God who executes vengeance for me,
who brings down people under me,49 who brings me away from my enemies.
Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me.
You deliver me from the violent man.

50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the nations,
and will sing praises to your name.

51 He gives great deliverance to his king,
and shows loving kindness to his anointed,
to David and to his offspring, forever more.”

2 Samuel 23

David’s Last Song

1 Now these are the last words of David.
David the son of Jesse says,
the man who was raised on high says,
the anointed of the God of Jacob,
the sweet psalmist of Israel:

2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me.
His word was on my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said,
the Rock of Israel spoke to me,
‘One who rules over men righteously,
who rules in the fear of God,4 shall be as the light of the morning,
when the sun rises,
a morning without clouds,
when the tender grass springs from the earth,
through clear shining after rain.’

5 Is it not so, my house is with God?
For he has made with me, an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things and secured,
for he will bring about my full salvation
and my every desire.

6 But all the ungodly will be as thorns to be thrust away,
because they cannot be taken with the hand.7 But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear.
They will be utterly burned with fire in their place.”

David’s Mighty Men

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, leader of the captains; he was called Adino the Eznite, who killed 800 at one time. 9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel had gone away. 10 He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and the Lord worked a great victory that day, and the people returned after him only to take plunder.

11 After him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the Lord worked a great victory.

13 Three of the 30 leading men went down, and came to David in harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 David longed for water, and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”

16 The three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David; but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord. 17 He said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.

18 Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against 300 and killed them, and had a name among the three. 19 Was he not most honorable of the three? Therefore he was made their captain. However he was not included as one of the three.

20 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow. 21 He killed a huge Egyptian, and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men. 23 He was more honorable than the 30, but he did not rise to that of the three. David set him over his guard.

24 Members of the 30 included:

Asahel the brother of Joab,
Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,29 Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,39 and Uriah the Hittite:

Thirty-seven in all.

Acts 2

The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from the sky, a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, from every nation under the heavens. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How are we hearing everyone in our own native language?

9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages, the mighty works of God!” 12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter Preaches to the Crowd

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.

18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the heavens above,
and signs on the earth beneath:
blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

21 It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him among you, just as you yourselves know, 23 him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; 24 whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.

25 For David says concerning him,

‘I saw the Lord always before my face,
for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.

28 You made known to me the ways of life.
You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul was not left in Hades, and his flesh did not see decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses, 33 being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, has poured out this, which you now see and hear.

34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’

36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Three Thousand Believe

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” 40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about 3,000 souls.

The Fellowship of Believers

42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. 46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

Psalm 122

A Song of Ascents. By David.

1 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let’s go to the house of God!”2 Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem,3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together,4 where the tribes go up; the tribes of the Lord’,
according to an ordinance for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

5 For there are set thrones for judgment,
the thrones of David’s house.6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Those who love you will prosper.7 Peace be within your walls,
and prosperity within your palaces.8 For the sake of my brothers’ and companions,
I will now say, “Peace be with you.”9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.

Proverbs 16:19-20

19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor,
than to divide the plunder with the proud.20 He who heeds the Word finds prosperity.
Whoever trusts in God is blessed.